The round robin phase of the Allianz Football League will be completed this weekend, after which counties will have a two-week break.
Regardless of how they fare at the weekend, teams will return for a fourth League game, be it in a divisional semi-final or a relegation play-off.
The top two in each section will cross over and play semi-finals, which will carry more weight than the final itself as they are essentially promotion play-offs with the two finalists in Divisions Two, Three and Four promoted by virtue of reaching the decider.
Of course, it is likely that all of the finals will not even be played as the GAA has decided that counties in action in the Championship on the weekend of June 26/27 will not be taking part in League finals the weekend before and will instead share the title with their fellow finalists.
That means, for example, that Kerry cannot retain their Division One title outright as they play Clare in the Munster quarter-final on June 26.
The bottom two teams in each section also crossover and the losers of either game will be relegated. Division Four is an exception as the bottom teams will compete for the Division Four Shield.
In the event of teams being tied on equal points, they will be separated by the head-to-head record where two counties are concerned. Scoring difference will apply where more than two teams are tied.
The Allianz Football League tables can be viewed here.
Here’s what’s already decided and what’s still up for grabs ahead of this weekend’s games:
Division One
Kerry are assured of a semi-final spot from Division One South following their draw with Dublin as they cannot be caught by their next opponents Roscommon and only one of Galway and Dublin, who play each other in Tuam on Sunday, can overtake them.
A draw or better for Dublin will ensure that they join Kerry in the last four but Galway need to win to leapfrog the All-Ireland champions and avoid a relegation play-off, which Roscommon are already guaranteed.
Everything is still on the table in Division One North, where Donegal travel to Armagh and Tyrone welcome Monaghan on Saturday. Put simply, it’s likely that the winners of both of those games will advance to the semi-final, though scoring difference could come against Monaghan.
Division Two
In Division Two South, Clare lead the way and will be assured of a semi-final spot if they avoid defeat against Cork in Ennis on Sunday. Cork and Kildare are in a similar position; really, they both need to win but a draw will be enough if the other loses and scoring difference may well be a factor.
Laois can, in theory, still make the semi-finals but it’s mathematically unlikely.
There’s not much to report in Division Two North with two dead rubbers coming up on Sunday. Mayo and Meath, who face off in Castlebar, are assured of semi-final spots with two wins from two, while Westmeath and Down will only be limbering up for a relegation play-off in Mullingar.
Division Three
Both sections are delicately poised with Derry and Offaly leading the way though Derry’s scoring difference (+35) in Division North is so superior that they are as good as through ahead of Saturday’s game with Cavan.
Longford’s, meanwhile, is so poor (-22) that they can realistically forget about leapfrogging both Fermanagh and Cavan to avoid a relegation play-off. A win for Cavan will likely be enough for the Ulster champions regardless of what Fermanagh achieve against Longford.
Munster champions Tipperary need a three-point win over table-toppers Offaly to be sure of a semi-final spot, though a draw would do if Wicklow beat Limerick. All four teams could be in the promotion or relegation places come Saturday evening.
Division Four
It’s effectively a play-off between Mickey Harte’s Louth and Tony McEntee-managed Sligo on Sunday for the second semi-final spot from Division Four North, with Antrim already assured of a top two spot ahead of their dead rubber with Leitrim, who are consigned to the Shield competition.
A draw would be enough for Louth, however.
In Division Four South, which has only three teams owing to London’s non-participation this year, Carlow welcome Wexford on Saturday knowing that anything less than an unlikely 29-point defeat will see them into a semi-final.
A win of any sort will be enough for Wexford to make the top two and push Waterford into the Shield.
